Bruce Willis

Armed with good looks, an everyman appeal, and boundless self-confidence, actor Bruce Willis shot from obscurity to superstar status via both a hit television series and one of the most popular action...
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Production on Bruce Willis' independent film Wake has been shut down just 10 days into shooting because of problems securing financing. The Die Hard actor had already begun shooting the thriller in Cleveland, Ohio, but filming had to be put on hold as producers were left scrambling for funding, according to Deadline.
Bosses at the film's production company, Benaroya Pictures, have confirmed the shut down, insisting they are hopeful filming will be up and running again soon.
A statement from the producers reads: "Benaroya Pictures is working quickly to remedy the delay in production on the feature film Wake, and we are optimistic we will resume principal photography in approximately 2-3 weeks."
Willis plays a sociopath who returns to his childhood home on a remote island for his brother's wake in the film. It also stars Sir Ben Kingsley, Ellen Burstyn and Piper Perabo.

We've already discussed Easter Eggs in movies and the many ways filmmakers create in-jokes and references for savvy viewers and those in the know, but today we're taking a look at filmmakers referencing other filmmakers (or their stars...or themselves). We bet you'll never watch these movies the same way again.
Honoring Directors They Admire:
1. Star Wars in Star Trek
Paramount Pictures
It's no surprise that Super 8 director J. J. Abrams is a Star Wars fan, but we bet you never caught R2-D2's appearance in both Star Trek and Star Trek: Into Darkness. It looks like Star Wars: The Force Awakens won't be Abrams' first time with the Star Wars world.
Giving a Nod To Its Stars' Careers
2. Romy and Michele's High School Reunion's wink at Quentin Tarantino
Buena Vista Pictures
The comedy has a few subtle references to Quentin Tarantino's film universe. At the time, Mira Sorvino (Romy) was dating Tarantino. Thus, the keen eye can discern a Big Kahuna Burger take-out bag behind Michele's head in the scene where they pig out and decide to emulate top female executives. In one of the next scenes, an ad for Red Apple Cigarettes can be seen behind their car. Both of these brands were made up by Tarantino for his films. Red Apple cigarettes can be seen in films like Pulp Fiction, Kill Bill, Four Rooms, and From Dusk Til Dawn.
3. Bruce Willis' Favorite Song
20th Century Fox via Everett Collection
Die Hard With A Vengeance has a Pulp Fiction reference in it! Who knew? Bruce Willis' Pulp Fiction character, Butch, is driving around while "Flowers on the Wall" by the Statley Brothers plays on his radio and he sings along before running into Marsellus Wallace. Die Hard's John McClane exits a cab in the 1995 film with Samuel L. Jackson and references his time suspended by reciting the same lyrics from Pulp Fiction: "I was working on a nice fat suspension. Smokin cigarettes and watching Captain Kangaroo." Willis starred in Pulp Fiction with Jackson between Die Hard 2 and Die Hard With A Vengeance.
4. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas with Rango
sodahead.com
The beginning of Rango features the Johnny Depp-voiced reptile landing on the windshield of a convertible driven by none other than Duke and Gonzo from Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. Johnny Depp paying tribute to Johnny Depp.
5. Adam Brody in Mr. &amp; Mrs. Smith
20th Century Fox via Everett Collection
Okay, maybe everyone just really loves Fight Club and Brad Pitt, right? In the 2005 rom-com action movie, Seth Cohen plays the man they're both assigned to kill, which is how they realize they're both spies. The whole time, Brody is wearing a Fight Club t-shirt. It's pretty obvious whose side he's on.
6. Fight Club Starring Brad Pitt
20 Century Fox
Fight Club has a bunch of hidden gems in it, including advertisements for its main stars. Theater marquees within the movie advertise films starring Brad Pitt (Seven Years In Tibet), Edward Norton (The People Vs. Larry Flynt), and even Helena Bonham Carter (The Wings of the Dove, although it's obscured by a bus in the scene, so this is questionable).
Paying Homage To Themselves:
7. The Social Network's Tyler Durden
Columbia Pictures
Fight Club's director David Fincher has also been known to reference his own movies. In The Social Network, Jesse Eisenberg's Zuckerberg uses Facebook for help on an Art History assignment. The profile he's viewing? Tyler Durden's.
8. Charlie and The Chocolate Factory
Warner Bros.
In the Tim Burton adaptation of Roald Dahl's classic, Charlie's father works for Smilex toothpaste factory; this is a reference to the poison Joker unleashed on Gotham in the Burton-directed Batman by hiding it in their toothpaste. During a tour of the factory, Wonka walks by a room of pink sheep as he says, "I'd rather not talk about this one." While this may just seem like a way to accentuate his eccentricity, Burton's actually referencing his Ed Wood biopic, also starring Johnny Depp; director Ed Wood was a notorious cross-dresser with an affinity for pink wool. In other scenes throughout the movie, children in the Halloween flashback wear masks of Lock, Shock, and Barrel from The Nightmare Before Christmas and a door in the factory is marked "BeetleJuicing."
9. Before Sunrise/Waking Life/Dazed and Confused
Fox Searchlight Pictures
Oscar-nominated writer-director Richard Linklater's film worlds seem to intersect at times. Like when Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy reprise their characters Jesse and Celine from Before Sunrise in the rotoscope dream movie Waking Life, which they then reference in Before Sunset. But there are subtler ways in which the films inhabit the same world: pinball. The same pinball machine can be found in at least three of Linklater's films: Waking Life, Before Sunrise, and Dazed and Confused.
10. Friends With Benefits picks up Easy A
Screen Gems
Director Will Gluck references his 2010 hit comedy Easy A in the totally-okay-but-not-as-successful 2011 film Friends With Benefits. The sign at the airport for an "O. Penderghast" alludes to Emma Stone's character in Easy A. Stone appears in both films and is flawless in both.
Paying Tribute To Other Directors:
11. Indiana Jones/Star Wars/E.T.
Paramount Pictures
R2-D2 makes another appearance - this time in Raiders of the Lost Ark. Spielberg paid tribute to Indiana Jones writer George Lucas by including hieroglyphics of the Star Wars droid in the 1981 film. Three years later, Spielberg did it again by naming a club in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom after Obi-Wan Kenobi.
12. E.T. in Star Wars
20th Century Fox
And then George Lucas thanks Steven Spielberg by featuring E.T. the Extra Terrestrial in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace.
13. Evil Dead 2/Nightmare on Elm Street
Paramount Pictures
Director Sam Raimi pays homage to Wes Craven in Evil Dead II: Dead by Dawn by sneaking iconic slasher Freddy Krueger's glove in the background of a few scenes.
Paying Tribute To The Genre:
14. Scream
GIPHY/reddit.com
Scream is more jam-packed with references than most other movies. It's basically a two-hour homage to the horror genre entirely. The character Billy Loomis borrows his last name from Psycho's Sam Loomis before quoting Anthony Perkins as Norman Bates. The janitor outside Principal Himbry's office (played by director Wes Craven himself) is named Fred and wears Freddy Krueger's iconic striped shirt. The film is so saturated with in-jokes and references that it's pretty easy for even the most savvy viewers to miss Scream Queen Linda Blair's brief cameo. Take comfort in understanding the constant name-checking of other horror flicks.

A group of Sudanese refugees now living in America have filed a groundbreaking lawsuit against Ron Howard, Brian Glazer and the other producers of Reese Witherspoon's 2014 movie The Good Lie, accusing them of breaching an agreement to swell the coffers of a foundation they run with money from the film. The 54 survivors of genocide, who shared their traumatic personal stories with the film's writers to help them create backgrounds for the leading characters, claim they were promised funds associated with The Good Lie for a non-profit foundation they created.
In the lawsuit, obtained by The Hollywood Reporter, they claim they have videotaped evidence of the promises the producers gave them before the film was released in America in October (14).
Their complaint dates back to 2002, when six of the 54 refugees were hired to work on Bruce Willis' movie Tears of the Sun. They claim they met with Bobby Newmyer, a film producer, shortly after the film wrapped and shared their life stories with him, prompting the executive to suggest they work together on another film. But shortly after the project got underway, during plot discussions in Atlanta, Georgia with screenwriter Margaret Nagle, some of the refugees said they wouldn't co-operate without reaching an agreement on compensation.
A deal was allegedly made but when the rights to the film that became The Good Lie were sold to Paramount Pictures and filming began in 2013, the plaintiffs claim the agreement was lost, leading to a meeting between representatives of the refugees and the new producers. The film came out without a firm contract in place.
The plaintiffs are now claiming breach of the joint venture agreement, breach of fiduciary duty, conversion of plaintiffs' ideas and breach of the covenant of good faith among other complaints.
They allege the interviews they gave to Nagle as she wrote the original screenplay possess the "modicum of creativity" necessary for being copyrighted, and therefore they deserve a cut of the film's cash as they collaborated with the writer.

Soul legend Patti Labelle is set to show off her fancy footwork alongside Lmfao's Redfoo and actress Rumer Willis as contestants on the upcoming season of America's Dancing With The Stars. Veteran actress Suzanne Somers, The Hunger Games' Willow Shields, Glee actor Riker Lynch, model Charlotte McKinney, gold medal-winning Olympic gymnast Nastia Liukin and Michael Sam, the first openly-gay player in the National Football League (NFL), will also compete on the dancefloor on the 10th year of the reality show.
At 14, Shields will be the youngest-ever competitor on the programme.
During the big line-up reveal on U.S. breakfast show Good Morning America on Tuesday (24Feb15), cancer survivor Somers says, "This is my opportunity to see if all the hormones and vitamins I've been taking all these years really pay off, so we'll see!"
And Willis, the eldest daughter of Demi Moore and Bruce Willis, reveals her famous parents will be cheering her on all the way, adding, "They're really excited."
Dancing With the Stars' season 20 will kick off on 16 March (15).

It's easy to get swept up with major Hollywood stars this time of year, gazing at the red carpet and thinking of these celebs as superhuman megastars, but even the biggest names around got their starts in less glamorous ways. Before their Oscars and Emmys, these stars had Pop Tarts and Lisa Frank.
1. Ben Affleck
Dig those smooth moves and that hip phone! The two-time Oscar winner starred in this Burger King commercial before becoming the megastar we know today from films like Good Will Hunting and Gone Girl. His next role may be playing Batman, but now we'll always think of him as this bad boy who breaks the rules.
2. Brad Pitt
It may be crazy to see a superstar like Brad Pitt shelling for potato chips, but if you think about it, not much has really changed for the Oscar-winning Fight Club star since this Pringles commercial: he still looks good enough to make our mouths water.
3. Jennifer Lawrence
Since starring in this commercial for MTV's Super Sweet 16, Hunger Games star Jennifer Lawrence has taught those boys how to properly carry her around on her throne, where this Oscar-winning actress belongs.
4. Stanley Tucci
We've always loved The Devil Wears Prada's Stanley Tucci, but seeing him young and hunky in this Levi's commercial made us love him even more.
5. Steve Carell
Steve Carell may have received his first Oscar nomination for his dramatic role in Foxcatcher, but this commercial shows that he's at his best when he's being funny and lovable.
6. Leonardo DiCaprio
We're like 97% sure we'd take our pants off immediately if Leo came up to us now and told us to "keep it poppin" or to "save some for Daddy." The 5-time Academy Award nominee is underrated even when it comes to his commercials.
7. Haley Joel Osment
We're just gonna throw this out there: The Sixth Sense could have been a much better movie if they'd stuck to the original line, "I see snack dragons." Just saying. Also, not even a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle would eat a pizza that looks that gross, Kraft.
8. Naomi Watts
Young Naomi Watts, the two-time Academy Award nominee you know from films like Birdman and Mulholland Drive, was once a teenager with a thick Australian accent. Like most of us, the near-perfect actress worried about her skin, her figure, and "that one" problem we don't talk about.
9. Bruce Willis and Sharon Stone
"You sound like a commercial." "You buyin' it?" This is the greatest moment of either of their careers. Just kidding, Sharon Stone has gone on to many other performances that are just as good, if not better.
10. Mila Kunis
So, we guess we can thank Mila Kunis for helping make Lisa Frank such a thing in the 90s. It's hard to believe that the star was only two years away from her breakout role on That '70s Show.
11. Elijah Wood:
We've always had a lot of love for Elijah Wood's facial expressions. From Lord of the Rings to Wilfred, his face is sometimes the only thing that makes his performances entertaining. This commercial might just be his shining moment.
12. Kristen Stewart
We love how sassy Kristen Stewart is in this Porsche commercial -- that head nod and "duh" look on her face, as if she would lie about missing her bus, Dad. But secretly, she's all *Live Fast, Die Hard, Bad Girls, Do It Well* #YOLO. Performance of her career, honestly.
13. Meg Ryan
We would personally rather watch a never-ending loop of Meg Ryan's face appearing over the Burger King logo than watch Sleepless in Seattle.
14. Joseph Gordon-Levitt
How many times have we fantasized about the chance to be at Joseph Gordon Levitt's house with him making us breakfast in the morning? Countless. But we never imagined it could be as adorable and delicious as this 1991 Pop Tarts commercial makes it seem.
15. Tobey Maguire
Yo, Spider-Man is having an uncomfortable amount of fun in the bathroom.
16. Corey Feldman
This adorable McDonalds commercial from 1975 may have been heartwarming back then, but 40 years later, it just reminds us how much The Goonies star hasn't aged since he was 4.
17. Demi Moore
We're not sure if the Ghost star was trying to sell Diet Coke by convincing us we might fall in love, or if she was trying to warn us of the dangers and health problems that could arise from drinking it, but we still like it.
18. Keanu Reeves:
Eating cereal has seriously never looked more fun than it does in this commercial. We would love to eat Kelloggs Corn Flakes with Keanu, Matrix style.
19. Stephen Colbert
This ad seems like a news report, and we can totally see a lot of similarities between this FirsTier Bank commercial and The Colbert Report.
20. Matt LeBlanc
Okay, the best things might come to those who wait, but does the Friends star now have to run back up to the roof, or is he just gonna waste that whole bottle of ketchup just to look cool eating one hot dog? Joey. Doesn't. Waste. Food.
21. Courteney Cox
Fun fact: the Friends star was the first person to ever say "period" (referring to menstruation, not punctuation) on TV. She then broke down more boundaries by starring in terribly-named-but-not-actually-terrible TV shows, like Cougar Town.
22. Elisabeth Moss
Are we the only ones watching this commercial as if we're watching Pegy pitch an ad campaign on Mad Men? We can't be.
23. Sarah Michelle Gellar
This 4-year-old Sarah Michelle Gellar just slayed Burger King's competition faster than you could say "Buffy." Un-be-liev-able!
24. Bryan Cranston
Fans were amazed with how Bryan Cranston transformed from the lovable Hal on Malcolm in the Middle into the meth kingpin Heisenberg on Breaking Bad, but the truly incredible transformation of his career happened way earlier. The way he instantly goes from being a skunk to a human is absolutely astonishing.
25. Aaron Paul
This commercial seems like it could actually just be Breaking Bad's Jesse Pinkman waiting to eat his breakfast before heading off to Chemistry with Mr. White, doesn't it? Aaron Paul's gotta have his Pops, bitch!
26. Megan Mullally and John Goodman
We love Karen Walker enough to be able to recognize that incredible voice anywhere, even if it's some place strange, like a McDonalds commercial. While Karen would certainly never actually sell Egg McMuffins, we're pretty sure that Roseanne star John Goodman totally would.
27. Seth Green
We don't mean to diminish the abilities of our favorite werewolf from Buffy the Vampire Slayer or our favorite dimwitted cartoon son from Family Guy, but this is definitely Seth Green's brightest moment. That hair, the accent. He totally nails the 90s goon role with lines like, "Consequently, we can hit on 'em," and "Definitely - NOT!"
28. Tony Hale
Tony Hale won our hearts playing Buster on Arrested Development (and an Emmy playing Gary on Veep), and this commercial proves that he's made a career out of his hilarious concern regarding women's toiletries. We wonder if Gary's Leviathan on Veep has Herbal Essences.
29. Charlie Day
This quirky commercial for Cascade dishwasher detergent looks like Charlie Day just stepped out of an episode of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Graduating and heading straight into retirement also seems like a total Charlie Kelly scheme, doesn't it?
30. Jane Lynch
Okay, the only thing we love more than Frosted Flakes and Tony the Tiger is this commercial with Glee star Jane Lynch camping out everyday trying to sneak a peak at the elusive mascot himself.

Arnold Schwarzenegger is following in the footsteps of his former Hollywood rival Sylvester Stallone by signing up to front a new U.K. advertising campaign. The actor-turned-politician has been named as the new face of U.K. price-comparison website GoCompare.com and will appear in the company's advertisements.
The news comes just days after fellow movie action man Stallone was unveiled as the star of a new advertising campaign for British bread company Warburtons, while other Hollywood actors with U.K. deals include Kevin Bacon, who fronts commercials for British cell phone network EE, and Bruce Willis, who has promoted Sky Broadband.
A source tells Britain's The Sun newspaper, "Arnie has worldwide appeal. He's not going to come cheap but it will pay off in the long run. Kevin Bacon started the ball rolling by starring in the EE adverts. Now marketing bods (workers) are all trying to follow suit."

Residents of a city in Alabama could soon be starring in a Hollywood movie after producers of Bruce Willis' latest film Extraction launched a hunt for extras. Movie crews are planning to shoot scenes for the thriller in Mobile, Alabama next month (Feb15) and they want to recruit dozens of locals for inclusion in a key scene.
Thousands of residents are expected to apply, and local casting agent Brandy Goleman has advised all applicants to prepare to be on set for up to 12 hours.
Extraction tells the story of one man's bid to free his father, a former CIA agent, who has been kidnapped by terrorists.

Bruce Willis' planned movie adaptation of Elmore Leonard book Bandits is finally moving forward, 28 years after he first optioned the rights to the novel. The Die Hard star knew he wanted to turn the black comedy into a film back in 1987, when it was first published, but his plans never came to fruition and the rights were later purchased by director Quentin Tarantino, who brought Leonard's Rum Punch to life onscreen as 1997 crime drama Jackie Brown.
The project has since found its way back into Willis' hands once more and now he has recruited Mitch Glazer, the screenwriter behind his forthcoming film Rock The Kasbah, to pen the script.
Bandits will feature an ensemble cast led by Willis, who will play lead character Jack Delaney, a former convict who gets involved in a get-rich-quick scheme with the help of a lapsed nun.
Leonard's writer son Peter Leonard and the late author's grandson, Tim, will serve as executive producers on the project.
Elmore Leonard died in 2013.

Bruce Willis and Demi Moore's daughter Tallulah has opened up about the issues which prompted her to seek rehab treatment last year (14), revealing an old photo of herself made her think she was "hideous".
The 20 year old checked into a clinic in July to deal with reported alcohol and drug abuse problems, and Willis now reveals her body image issues led to her problems.
In a candid new interview with Teen Vogue she explains, "A switch flipped. I was in a New York hotel room when I was 13... looking at a photo of myself online. I broke down in tears as I started to read the comments.
"I thought, 'I am a hideous, disgusting-looking person. I might be nice and I might be kind, but I'm a really unattractive human being'. It wasn't about the anonymous cyberbullies - I became my own worst critic."
Willis explains her issues grew into depression and her older sister, Scout, eventually convinced her to seek treatment.
She continues, "In college the depression became overwhelming. I didn't sleep or want to talk to anyone, nothing seemed to have a point, the world lost its color and food lost its taste. I was so removed from my body and from my mind that it was like I was living in a cardboard replica of what life should be.
"(Scout) forced me to see what I was doing. I knew I needed to go take care of myself."
Tallulah spent 45 days in treatment and is now sober, explaining, "I'm now 20 years old, and I can say that I'm getting to that place where I'm starting to feel OK with myself, bit by bit. It's not night and day - it's not like now I completely love myself and I have no problems. That isn't how it works. But there are the starting points of that, and that's really exciting. I'm growing every day and breaking old patterns."

The Russian bank which has featured Bruce Willis as a spokesman for the last four years has collapsed amid the country's current economic crisis. Trust Bank has been propped up with a multi-million dollar subsidy from Russia's central bank after the rouble took a nosedive.

Played Jimmy 'The Tulip' Tudeski, a hit man on the lam, in the comedy "The Whole Nine Yards"

Reunited with cast for action sequel "The Expendables 2"

Formed Night Owl Promotions

Executive produced and starred in the Showtime adaptation of Sam Shepard's play "True West"

First screen credit as writer (provided story) for "Hudson Hawk"; also co-wrote "The Hudson Hawk Theme"

Re-teamed with Shymalan for the film "Unbreakable"

Starred in Luc Besson's sci-fi actioner "The Fifth Element"

Teamed with Tracy Morgan for Kevin Smith's buddy cop film "Cop Out"

Starred in "Red 2"

Returned as John McClane in action thriller "A Good Day to Die Hard"

Received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (October)

Won praise for his portrayal of a Vietnam veteran in Norman Jewison's "In Country"

Worked as a bartender at NYC restaurants Chelsea Central and Cafe Central and the nightclub Kamikaze

Starred in "Red," an adaption of the comic book miniseries of the same name

Made theater debut in the off-Broadway production of "Heaven and Earth"

Appeared as himself in Robert Altman's "The Player"

First film as producer, "Sunset"; also played the role of Tom Mix; second film with Edwards

Made uncredited guest appearance as a shrink on an episode of Fox's "Ally McBeal"

Released debut album The Return of Bruno, which included the hit single "Respect Yourself"

Co-starred with Billy Bob Thornton and Cate Blanchett in the comedy, "Bandits"

Played oil driller Harry Stamper in the Michael Bay-directed, "Armageddon"

Co-starred with Rebecca Hall and Catherine Zeta-Jones in comedy feature "Lay the Favorite"; film based on memoir by Beth Raymer

Debuted as a series regular, playing David Addison opposite Cybill Shepherd, in ABC's "Moonlighting" ; earned Golden Globe (1986, 1988) and Emmy (1986) nominations for Lead Actor in a Drama Series

Voiced the thoughts of baby Mikey in the feature "Look Who's Talking"

Breakthrough stage role, replaced Ed Harris, in the off-Broadway production of Sam Shepard's "Fool for Love"

Appeared in "The Expendables," an 80s-style action adventure about a group of mercenaries; film featured ensemble of action stars including Sylvester Stallone, Jet Li, and Arnold Schwarzenegger

Played the starring role in M. Night Shymalan's supernatural thriller "The Sixth Sense"

Summary

Armed with good looks, an everyman appeal, and boundless self-confidence, actor Bruce Willis shot from obscurity to superstar status via both a hit television series and one of the most popular action-adventure films of all time. After beating out literally thousands of contenders, Willis' portrayal of wisecracking P.I. David Addison on "Moonlighting" (ABC, 1985-89) made him one of television's hottest leading men. It was, however, the character of indefatigable Det. John McClain in the blockbuster actioner "Die Hard" (1988) that solidified Willis as a legitimate action star - albeit one who ends up broken and bruised. There were periodic career slumps ahead, as evidenced by the colossal failures of "The Bonfire of the Vanities" (1990) and "Hudson Hawk" (1991). Still, as doggedly determined as McClane, Willis followed each low with stellar turns in successes like director Quentin Tarantino's "Pulp Fiction" (1994). Working with cinema's most commercially successful filmmakers, Willis helped deliver box office winners like director Michael Bay's "Armageddon" (1998) and the landmark thriller, "The Sixth Sense" (1999). Despite the end of his 13-year marriage to actress Demi Moore, the actor channeled his sense of humor in the comedy "The Whole Nine Yards" (2000) to fine effect. More than 20 years after entering the limelight, Willis remained one of film's most bankable stars in such hits as "Sin City" (2005), "Live Free or Die Hard" (2007) and "Red" (2010). Working constantly and playing to his strengths, the witty Willis enjoyed a career longevity that other action movie stars could only envy.

Met in August 1987; Married in a small ceremony in Las Vegas, NV and then again with friends and family on November 21, 1987 by singer-minister Little Richard; Acted together in "Mortal Thoughts" (1991); Announced split in June 1998; Divorced Oct. 18, 2000; Moore re-married on Sept. 24, 2005 to Ashton Kutcher

Sheri Rivera

Companion

Lived together prior to his marriage to Moore; Former wife of Geraldo Rivera

Born Feb. 3, 1994; mother, Demi Moore; appeared with her mom in "The Scarlet Letter" (1995) and with Willis in "The Whole Ten Yards" (2004)

Marlene Willis

Mother

Worked in a bank; Moved to California after her 1971 divorce from Willis' father

David Willis

Brother

Served as vice president of Willis' production company

Robert Willis

Brother

Formerly in partnership with Skyline Entertainment; Died of pancreatic cancer at age 42 on June 26, 2001

E Willis

Grandfather

Willis named a building in Hailey, ID after him

Mabel Willis

Daughter

Born April 1, 2012; mother, Emma Hemming

Florence Willis Rogers

Sister

Education

Name

Penns Grove High School

Montclair State College

Notes

Willis received an honorary doctorate from Montclair State University.

In 2002, Willis was named Man of the Year by Hasty Pudding Theatricals of Harvard University.

On his NYC bartending days at Cafe Central, during which time he had acquired the nickname 'Bruno': "The bar was always six-deep. It was where a lot of celebs and movie-star types and wannabes hung out. If you're serving them drinks and you're drinking with them, it's a very fraternal feeling. They're not way up on a pedestal. It's four in the morning and they're probably half in the bag. So I didn't have to deal with that mystique." – Willis to Anthony Haden-Guest in Vanity Fair magazine, January 1991

"I don't cheat, lie or go out of my way to mess people over, but I'm still amazed at the venal garbage that goes on in this town. People lie about you. People want to see you fail. It's so competitive here, you can see how much people want you to fail." – Willis quoted in The Los Angeles Times, Sept. 21, 1993

"Bruce to me, really suggests a 50's-style actor like an Aldo Ray or a Ralph Meeker or a young Burt Lancaster." – director Quentin Tarantino, quoted in The New York Times, Oct. 2, 1994

"For a long time, I don't know if there was a lot of controversy SURROUNDING me, but it was certainly more interesting to throw rocks and dump trash on me than it was to say nice things about me. That kind of controversy sells more. And has since become, in the last ten years since they started writing about me, the norm." – Willis to Entertainment Weekly, May 19, 1995

"Look, this is my face. If it's a curse, it's a curse. And I never said, hey, I'm smirking, America! Look at me! Love me! It's a little hook that they caught on and they've found a way to turn it against me and make it some negative thing, but that's how I smile. Nothin' I can do about it." – Willis on his famous smirk, quoted in Entertainment Weekly, May 19, 1995

"I AM a sensitive guy. People think they know the real me, but they don't. And then they write things that make me sound like such a schmuck." – Willis to Movieline magazine, August 1996

"I never had the opportunity to play supporting roles. I went straight from starring in 'Moonlighting' to starring in 'Die Hard,' so when I was given the opportunity to do a couple of scenes with actors I admired, I did it. I did 'Death Becomes Her' because I wanted to work with Meryl [Streep] and Goldie [Hawn]. I did 'Billy Bathgate' for Dustin Hoffman. I did 'Nobody's Fool' because I wanted to work with Paul Newman. That was it; I didn't even read the script. Robert Benton called me and said, 'I'm doing this film with Newman.' And I asked him, 'Do I have any scenes with him?' He said, 'All your scenes are with him. Want to read it?' I said, 'No, I'm in. I'll do it.' And it was such a treat." – Willis to Elizabeth Snead in USA Today, Oct. 12, 1999

"I think unless the hand of God intervenes, I'm going to go out as a bachelor. You're asked to stand up there and say, 'I promise to love you forever until death do us part.' You might as well be crossing your fingers when you say that. How can you possibly know where you're gonna be five years from now, or 10 years from now, or 20 years from now?" – Willis to People magazine, March 10, 2005

"It's hard for people to understand but we go on holidays together. We still raise our kids together. Demi is the mother of my children and Ashton is the stepfather of my children. I'm thrilled that Ashton turned out to be such a great guy. I love Demi, and I know she loves me." – Willis on his relationship with ex-wife Moore and her husband Kutcher, to Vanity Fair magazine, May 2007

In February 2013, Willis was named Commander of the Order of Arts and Letters, the highest culture award in France.